The Sword of the Spirit.
By Thirza M. Foster
“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” Eph. v, 11. THE apostle Paul, among the many instructions which he gives to his brethren, in a special manner entreats us to war a good warfare, to endure hardness as good soldiers, to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. In Eph. vi, he is very explicit in his description of the weapons which compose the armor of the Lord; and exhorts us to take unto us the whole armor, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Let us look for a moment at the sword of the Spirit which Paul tells us is the word of God. In writing to his son Timothy, he assures us that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” From the word of God, we can acquire that divine knowledge which is needful for us in our present fallen state. It tells us those great truths we need to know concerning our Creator, his character, designs, and claims; also our obligation to him, and to our fellow men. The holy Scriptures are not curious speculations, devoid of practical use, far from this. They are Spirit, and they are Life. They are so harmonious and self-consistent in their teachings; that they furnish a shield to quench every fiery dart of the wicked; a weapon to repel every attack of the adversary. Wherever God’s truth has been carefully and faithfully proclaimed, Satan and his confederates have met with peculiar opposition; and we see many instances where God confounds the wise and mighty, by the weak and foolish things of the world. It is because the weak and foolish have put on that mighty armor furnished them by the word of God. The Bible is the grand weapon with which the soldier of the cross must meet and repel his spiritual foes. It holds a distinguishing place among those weapons which are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Let us look to Jesus, the captain of salvation. Behold him in the wilderness in arduous conflict with the leader of the rebel army. In three successive assaults he drove the enemy back, with the sword of the Spirit. “It is written, It is written, It is written,” were the words with which he opposed every one of his temptations. Jesus believed every word which proceeded out of the mouth of God. He believed it was easier for heaven and earth to fail, than for one jot or one tittle of his Father’s law to fail. David, God’s servant, loved his truth. He says, “Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.” “Oh how love I thy law;” but Christ’s love for the word was still greater. Christ teaches mankind to search the Scriptures, to understand the doctrine of the Bible, to obey its precepts, that their eyes may be opened, and that they may turn from darkness to light; and from the power of Satan unto God. It is by means of the inspired volume, that mankind are made acquainted with their dangerous and deceitful enemy, the Devil. Here we learn that his object is to lead us to everlasting ruin. As a roaring lion, he walketh about seeking whom he may devour. We are told that he has snares, devices, and wiles, by which to effect his object. Jesus says, “that when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of himself, for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John viii, 44. In practicing his deceptions, he sticks to nothing. He transforms himself into an angel of light, and his ministers into the apostles of Christ. See 2 Cor. xi, 13–15. The word of God is purposely constructed to expose Satan, his character and cause, and to effect the destruction of his kingdom. For this reason he is ever devising means to get rid of this weapon, with which he is so much annoyed. We may calculate, as far as his influence prevails, to see infidelity popular. He doubtless prefers atheism; but is tolerably well satisfied with deism, spiritualism, or any other ’ism which denies the inspiration of the Bible, or even of some part of it. Satan is seeking to allure souls to destruction. If he cannot induce them to doubt the inspiration of the Scriptures, he has another device to preserve himself from being wounded by this two-edged sword; he will tempt men to change the truth of God into a lie, and these men, as his subjects, tempt others to do the same. If Satan can but batter the keen edge, and break the sharp point, of the sword of the Spirit, he knows it will then fail of doing execution. He will improve every opportunity to do this, by perverting the word of God. He has been so successful in duping almost the whole world to believe in a change of the fourth commandment of the decalogue, that he is emboldened to strike at the whole moral law of God, representing it as all taken out of the way. When he succeeds in making men believe the law of God is no longer a part of the word, the sword of the Spirit does not look so formidable to him. Though many passes may be made with it in its impaired state, it123proves harmless. It is no longer quick and powerful, piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit; nor is it any longer a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. See Heb. iv, 12. We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices. He is trying to strip us of our armor; but if we have the word of God often in our hands, and dwelling richly in our hearts, Satan cannot disarm us. His weapons are weak. Ours are mighty. Brethren and sisters, if we are soldiers for Jesus, let us truly gird on the sword of truth, that we may be prepared to stand against the foe. Then the Lord will verify his promise unto us, and not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able; but will in every temptation make a way for our escape. Let us in every encounter with the enemy, have our two-edged sword in the field, sharpened and polished; then the Holy Spirit of promise will accompany it, and direct it with mighty power to the hearts of men. Every honest soul will be delivered from Satan’s chains, and gathered into the loyal army of the Lord. Then Jesus our King will come. Our warfare will be ended, and the victory forever won.